“The greater the difficulty the more glory in surmounting it. Skillful pilots gain their reputation from storms and tempests.”
What this quote means
Epictetus reminds us that the worth of our victories is measured by the size of the obstacles we overcome. It is in adversity that our strength and skill are revealed, like the pilot who builds his reputation by braving the storm. This quote invites us to embrace challenges, to see them not as hindrances but as stepping stones to our greatness. It applies to anyone who, facing a difficulty, chooses to view it as an opportunity to surpass themselves and prove their worth.
How to apply it daily
Choose a current challenge that intimidates you. Write down the skills and resources it will force you to develop, then commit to cultivating them with determination.
Reading guide
Which book should you read to discover Epictetus?
Our starting point
A short, practical first approach
Enchiridion
In a few pages, it sets out the central distinction between what depends on us and what does not.
- Level
- Accessible
- Reading time
- 1–2 hours
- Formats to compare
- Print · Ebook · Audio
Merchant links help compare editions. Recommendations are editorially independent.
Continue
Related quotes
Same author or same theme — keep reading.
“The only way to do great work is to love what you do.”Create visual
“Believe you can and you're halfway there.”Create visual
“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”Create visual
“The only impossible journey is the one you never begin.”Create visual
“Don't watch the clock; do what it does. Keep going.”Create visual
“The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.”Create visual
More quotes by Epictetus
“First say to yourself what you would be, then do what you have to do.”Create visual
“It is not things themselves that disturb men, but their judgments about these things.”Create visual
“Some things are in our control and others not. Things in our control are opinion, pursuit, desire, aversion, and, in a word, whatever are our own actions. Things not in our control are body, property, reputation, command, and, in one word, whatever are not our own actions.”Create visual
“Wealth consists not in having great possessions, but in having few wants.”Create visual